LinkedIn is a valuable social networking tool that some businesses overlook as they put together social media marketing strategies. This network is a little different than other sites because it attracts a different market. But, if your business wants to target other businesses or working professionals, you need to use LinkedIn.

Setting up a LinkedIn business page can help you establish your business as an industry expert, build your reputation and promote your products and services. If you don’t have a LinkedIn business page, these tips can help you set one up the right way. If you already have a page, use these ideas to make sure it will help you effectively reach your market.

Use Complete Information

First, like all social media networks, you need to make sure the information you include about your business is complete and accurate. Without this information, it will be difficult to build a LinkedIn following and use the network to build your brand.

People will look at the details you include about what your business does and the kinds of products it provides before they decide if they want to follow your business. Capture your market’s attention by providing interesting and complete information. Your LinkedIn page can also become a resource for people who want to learn more about your brand, so make the most of it.

Visually Brand Your Page

LinkedIn lets you use a header image and profile picture, so use those to help you brand your page. Create a custom header image that reflects your brand and tells people they are on one of your pages. Some businesses use a logo for their profile picture while others use a headshot. The route you take will depend on the type and size of business you have.

Coca-Cola uses its profile picture and header image to brand its page.

Add Products and Services

Don’t leave the products and services section of your page empty. Using this section is a great way to generate traffic to your site and make more sales. Make sure the links you include on this page take visitors to pages on your website where they can buy your products.

Include Keywords in all Your Copy

Make sure you are using keywords from your SEO campaigns throughout your entire LinkedIn page. When you do this, you make it easier for people to find your page when they search for key terms within LinkedIn and on Google. In fact, it is possible to rank your LinkedIn business page, which gives you an extra listing, in addition to your website and other pages, on the front page of search results.

Create a Custom URL

Instead of using the URL LinkedIn automatically generates, set up a custom URL that uses your company name and makes it easier for people to find your page. Then, when you use your URL on other marketing materials, it will look branded and your market will be able to remember it.

Leverage Recommendations

Once your products and services page is complete, ask some of your satisfied customers to leave a review or recommendation on the page. These recommendations can act as powerful testimonials that will help persuade your market to visit your website and make a purchase.

One of the best things about this feature is that LinkedIn users will see recommendations from people in their own network. So, if someone visits your page and sees a recommendation from someone they know, that testimonial will mean even more to him and be even more of an incentive to try the product.

Google includes lots of recommendations and a link to its product page on its website.

Once your LinkedIn page is set up, start sharing content your business creates from its blog, YouTube channel, website and anywhere else. Also be sure to interact with other businesses by commenting on and sharing their content. The more you do this, the more followers you will attract and the more important your LinkedIn page will become for your social media marketing plans and business.

Include LinkedIn in your social media marketing strategy by using these tips to make sure your page is set up correctly and ready to help you reach your market.